The advisory workgroup settled on its final recommendations to the planning board April 4 on changes in the marine and water-dependent district along Atlantic Avenue’s harbor side.

Recommendations are to redefine the district as mixed use, continuing with all current uses; a high water setback of 25 feet; permitting common wall residences at the current town-wide density of six units per acre; setting a minimum lot size per common wall construction at 2,500 square feet and treating commonly owned lots as contiguous; 20-foot view corridors for lots with 100-foot frontages; and 2,000 square feet per commercial use.

The workgroup also recommended the planning board further investigate the possibility of extending new construction impact fees to other districts and setting a 35-foot or two-and-a-half story building height limit for the proposed mixed use district and the downtown business area.

During the public forum, Selectmen's Chair Wendy Wolf said she believed the introduction of common wall residences works against the 2015 Boothbay Harbor Comprehensive Plan.

“In the chapters on future land use, marine resources and housing, there are a tremendous number of recommendations to expand affordable and workforce housing particularly for seniors and families with low incomes,” said Wolf. “But I cannot find any recommendation in the long range plan ... that suggests the development of additional high-end harbor waterfront condominiums is a priority for our town. In fact, the comprehensive plan says ‘downtowns that allow residential uses to displace commercial uses usually lose their vitality.’”

Planning Board Chair Bill Hamblen replied with page six of the comprehensive plan, stating the "downtown will be sustained and enhanced with a vibrant mix of business, residential, and community uses.”

“Residences have always been a part of the vision ... and, in fact, now single family residences are allowed in every district in Boothbay Harbor, so I think it’s unlikely that we would not have residences,” said Hamblen.

Hamblen said common wall residences can be clustered, leaving more room and more opportunity. He said a cluster of common wall units would bring in more tax dollars than a single family home.

Wolf replied, “When you drive by Mill Cove Condominiums, Oak Point Condominiums, Signal Point Condominiums ... the majority of those are seasonal residents ... I like to view vibrancy as more than a single season span. I think vibrancy ought to be encouraged for things that encourage year round activity and year round residency and typically high-end condominiums don’t accomplish that.”

Southport resident and Tom Myette, owner of the Boardroom on McKown Street,had a different perspective. He owns a building with two common wall units above a storefront.

“I’m thinking of giving up my house in Southport and moving into town,” said Myette. “I’m going to keep those two condos because it’s going to pay part of my bills going into retirement ... Those two condos pay for that building ... The fact that there are two sets of people, in my case, means (they are) going out to dinner, (they are) buying from these commercial buildings. It isn’t all negative.”

Lobster Wharf owner Tom Philbrick considers himself a relative outsider. Witnessing the advisory workgroup over the last few months, he felt he needed to speak to prospective developer Paul Coulombe, especially about his famous quote of wanting to own his own town.

“The first thing he said to me was that was the biggest mistake he made coming into this town. He has no intention owning this town ... he has no intention of coming up the east side any further than Cap’n Fish’s. It makes sense when you sit down and talk to him about his personal goals in this town. I just want to say that I’m pretty good at reading people, and for most of my life I’ve had to do that, and reading him in a heart-to-heart situation – his intentions are good for this town.”

The workgroup has concluded. Its recommendations now go to the planning board for further discussion and consideration.

The board meets next at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 11 in the town office.

The April 4 meeting video accompanying this article is also available on Boothbay Region Television (BRTV)’s website and on Channel 1301.